Any news surrounding Marvel Studios' upcoming sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is destined to be bittersweet given the film's tragic absence of the late Chadwick Boseman. Even so, the studio seems determined to move on while honoring his legacy. But what can fans expect from the new movie, particularly considering a shift in perspective that's all but required now?
Well, according to one of the film's stars, viewers can rest easy knowing that the sequel will not only live up to the standard set by 2018's excellent Black Panther, but it may even surpass it. Considering how Black Panther 2 is one of 2022's most anticipated movies, it may be difficult to live up to the hype people are already building up in their own minds. But Angela Bassett, who is set to reprise her role as Queen Ramonda in the impending follow-up, seems to have a pretty confident appraisal of the situation.
Appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Bassett revealed about as much as she could without angering the Marvel gods that regularly sic their wrath on poor souls like the leak-prone Tom Holland. When DeGeneres attempted to draw some info about the movie out from the star, she was adamant that there was very little she could give. "It's going to be amazing," she finally offered. "It's going to top [the first] one. Can I say that?" Now, whether she meant that in terms of the movie's quality or its box office numbers has yet to be seen. But given the hype levels for Wakanda Forever and the sheer amount of effort going in from director Ryan Coogler and the rest of the team, both could easily be possible.
Naturally, the subject shifted briefly to a mention of Boseman himself, with Bassett and DeGeneres musing about the late actor's still painful passing. "He was such an example, such a leader, an amazing talent — we all know that," Bassett said with reverence. "Big heart, great intellect, and we just hope to raise his standard." When Boseman passed away in late 2020, audiences and those in the film world all shared their grief and shock at this rising star suddenly losing his long-held secret battle with cancer. As a result, the folks behind Black Panther: Wakanda Forever have expressed their desire to honor Boseman's legacy.
Black Panther was already an important film at the time, featuring a predominantly Black cast in a high-profile superhero picture. But in the wake of Boseman's passing, it seems that expectations have skyrocketed for the sequel, as it now has something to prove alongside being a follow-up to such a significant milestone in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Bassett's comments almost seem hopeful given everything the new movie has riding on it.
But Wakanda Forever is under the watchful eye of an already proven team of talent, from director Coogler to the stellar returning cast members like Winston Duke as M'Baku. So it seems like a safe bet to keep an optimistic outlook going forward. This significant sequel isn't being made lightly, and the people behind it seem to fully respect that.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will release in the U.S. on November 11th, 2022.
Source: The Ellen DeGeneres Show (via The Hollywood Reporter)